North Carolina Wedding Photographer based in Raleigh, NC and Charlotte. Specializing in NC Estate, Hotel, and Vineyard weddings.

Wedding Wednesday | Wedding Day Make-Up Tips!

I had the idea of having guest posts a few weeks ago while I was revamping my blog. I love the idea of having people in my life share their wedding day tips for all of you! And as a result you get another peak into just how many wonderful people I share my life with :) So for my first guest post my best friend Caroline is going to be sharing some great wedding day makeup tips with you.

Take it away girl!

Hello brides and future brides! My name is Caroline Espinal and I am Jackie's best friend. I've had a long time passion for makeup and beauty and I'm here to take a smidge of tension of your hands! For a lot of women, the most nerve racking component to their big day is their appearance. I’ve seen so many brides stress themselves out over their hair, makeup, dress.. the whole nine. When in reality, your day should, in fact, be your day. To put your mind at ease, here are some tips to ensure you look like the best version of yourself in a stress free way.

1. Be sure to prime!

Actually I recommend this for every single makeup application. A primer helps adhere all your makeup to your skin. It gives it a good solid base so your awesome makeup looks flawless for the whole night. If you have oily skin or enlarged pores, a silicone based primer will help fill in those pores and keep your skin matte and illuminated without looking shiny, which is ideal for photos. For skin that has redness or dark marks, (don’t worry, you’re not the only one with annoying dark circles) a color correcting primer is where you want to lean towards, which come in different hues for each type. For dry skin, be sure to moisturize! Even a couple days before leading up to your wedding. You want your skin to look hydrated, plump and least flakey as possible. Another little trick is to set your makeup with a powder and/or a setting spray. This will definitely make your face stay flawless the whole night. And last but not least, everyone and I mean everyone should prime their eyes! The last thing you want is for your beautiful eye shadow to be trapped in your crease. Remember the way you look walking into your wedding is the same way you want to walk out.

2. Test Run!

Whether you are hiring a makeup artist or you’re doing it yourself, always try out your makeup look at least one time before your big day. The engagement session would be a PERFECT trial run. I recommend doing the same for your hair trial too. This way, if you are unhappy with the result there is room for improvement. And if you decide to do it yourself, you have the freedom of trying it out a couple times.

3. DO NOT get spa treatments too soon!

Now this is a big one. Sometimes women want to get pampered the day before their wedding. Get your nails done, pedicures, eyebrows, etc. Most of these are completely fine BUT if you want to get a facial, skin peel, tan or anything that can be abrasive to the skin I highly recommend doing this at least 4 days prior, a week is even better. When someone peels the skin or interrupts the natural process of the skin, for some people it may prove to be too rough. To avoid painful looking redness or a tan that is too dark, patchy or rubbing off, make sure you give your skin time to heal. The last thing you want are orange stains on your dress!

4. Try some color

Too many women are afraid of color and experimenting with their makeup. There is nothing to be afraid of! Makeup should be fun! This is a day that you want to look back and think that you did everything you wanted without feeling remorse or regret. To pull this off seamlessly, I suggest a classic red lip, a little pop of purple on your eyes, or even a fun pink blush. It is very possible that you may not like it, this is why I suggested test run all makeup looks prior to your actual wedding. If you prefer the classic route that is perfectly fine too!

5. Bridesmaids

Long gone are the days of matchy, matchy bridesmaids. You want your girls to compliment you. Just think of it this way, while your bridesmaids are walking down the aisle they’re like the opening act to the headliner. Be sure to have your girls express themselves in the ultimate classy way. They don’t all have to have the exact same monochromatic look. It’s fun to have a little variety in their makeup looks. And this is the perfect way to show off your awesome taste!

6. Just be you

Don’t forget, you're the bride! You want to look like the best version of yourself. Your future husband is marrying you for who you are. If you don’t feel comfortable with lots of makeup on, don’t fall into the peer pressure. You can add as much as you want or reduce as much as you want. Don’t be afraid to make tweaks during your trial runs because that is what they’re for. Remember if you feel uncomfortable, you will look uncomfortable. Make yourself happy on your day. Have fun. It’s a day to remember, if all else fails at least you'll look flawless!

Thanks Caroline! If you ladies have any questions for Caroline feel free to share them in the comments section below! She also has a new YouTube channel all about makeup and beauty tips and looks that you can check out HERE.